116 ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR CHARLES RUSSELL, Q. C. M. P. 



Lord Hannen. — Is that a part of the forgery, "Behring Sea". 



Sir Charles Eussell. — Yes; from the word "and" to the word 

 ^^sea" inclusive. 



I am most anxious that the Tribunal should realize that if these for- 

 geries are cut out of this case of Russia's assertion and of British con- 

 cession, there is nothing left: that the whole question resolves itself 

 into the action of the Powers, the United States of America and Great 

 Britain, the assertion in the Ukase of 1821, and upon the consequences 



of the subsequent cession. 

 850 Then as to the next quotation o»i the same page, 44: it stands 



in the original thus : 



The object of the cruising of two of our armed vessels is the protection of our 

 colonies 



Lord Hannen. — Where is that comparison of parallel columns'? 



Sir Charles Russell. — I will give it to you, my Lord. You will 

 find it in the Appendix to the British Counter Case, Vol. I, page 11. 



I will occupy one or two moments longer, with the permission of the 

 Tribunal. If the Tribunal will take a note of the page they will see at 

 a glance, because we have underlined the interpolations. But may I, 

 before the Court rises, just call attention to two more. Tlie way he has 

 ingeniously altered the sentence I have just read is to make it run 

 thus: 



The object of the cruising of two of our armed vessels is the protection of our 



colonies, and the exclusion of foreign vessels engaged in traffic or industry injurious 

 to the interests of the Russian Company as well as to those of the native inhabitants 

 of those regions. 



Then, on the next page, page 45, is a very neat little introduction. 

 It ran originally thus: 



By a strict observance of such rules, we may hope to make this industry a perma- 

 nent and reliable source of income to the Company, without disturbing the price of 

 these valuable skins in the market. 



He has improved it, thus : 



By a strict observance of such rules, and a proMMtion of all IciUinfj of fur-seals at sea 

 or in. the passes of the Aleutian Islands, we may hope to make this industry a perma- 

 nent and reliable source of income to the Company, without disturbing the price of 

 these valuable skins in the market. 



A most ingenious gentleman, this; but I need not say he understood 

 what he was about. He understood the contention perfectly. He 

 realized it most completely. 



Then at the bottom of page 46. It originally ran: 



and Okhotsk and prohibited them from engaging in trade. 



And he has ingeniously altered it, and inserted these words: 

 and from hunting and fishing in all the waters of Eastern Siberia. 



Then he adds boldly a full sentence. Again, this is all his concoction : 



In conclusion, it is stated as the decision of His Majesty, the Emperor, in view of 

 possible future complications of this natui'e, that no contracts involving the free 

 admission or navigation for trade of foreign ships or foreign subjects in the waters 

 adjoining or bounded by the coasts of Russian colonies will be approved by the 

 Imperial Government. 



I need not remind you of what is, I think, present in your minds, 

 namely, that in Russian legislation, while Siberia and Kamchatka are 

 spoken of as part of the realm of Russia, Alaska, on the other hand, is 

 always spoken of as a colony of Russia. 



